Radiator



June 24, 1930.

w. A. FlNLEY RADIATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 23, 1927 Attorney W. A. FINLEY June 24, 1930.

RADIATOR Filed Sept. 23, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A [tor ney latented June 24, 193a I i 1 7 250 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLI M A, rmnnmor BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA RADIATOR Application filed September 23, 1927. Serial No. 221,587.

My invention relates toradiators for the In my improved radiator, I have reduced heating plants of buildings, more particuthe above ment oned difficulties to a m1n1- larly to radiators in which steam, hot water, mum by producing, first, an improved unit or vapor is employed as a heating medium, for the heating medium under pressure,

and has for its object the provision of appawhich is of such shape as to prov1de the maxi- 55 rat-us of the character designated which shall mum area of direct radiating surface, for the occupy a minimum of space and be possessed volume of heatmg med um employed; s eof improved heat radiating qualities. 0nd, by forming the radiator unitof the ul- A further object of my invention is to protlmate possible thinness consistent with safe- 10 vide a radiator adapted for association with ty, thus providmg the minimum of resist- 0 an air circulating system, and which shall emanCe to conductlonof heat through the walls body heating units having a large heat radi fthe unit; and third, by so Joining the radiating area relative to the volume of heating l g n or plates to t e unit as to provide medium employed, and wherein the air 1n stays for the thin walled units and for the i i -i b hti t i ti t t t maxnnum transfer of heat by conduction as with all the heat radiating units and with r m h linlt to the plates or fins, and thence a i i resistance t 'ai fl by radiation to the air flowing thereover.

A till f th bj t f my i ntio i Furthermore, the arrangement of the fins or to provide a radiator unit for a heating sysplates 18 such that there is a minimum resist- 20 tem employing a medium under pressure, anceto air flow over the unit with a maXiwherein the unit is of a deformable shape mum Contact wlth the plates. Ina multiple h bj t d t pressure d f d unit radlator, the arrangement is such asto of such thin material as to be deformable un- Increase the edge Contact of h air With the 'der the pressure normally in the system, and Plates urther Increasing the rate of 25 to provide heat radiating members surroundheat transfer.

ing the unit which act as stays to prevent its pp ra s e b dying features of my indeformatio'n, whereby the pressure in the ventlfm 1S m in the acompanying unit holds it in tight engagement with the ng formlng a P Of tillS pp i ion, radiating members, thereby enhancing the P 30 heat radiating qualities of the unit. F g- 1 1S a front Vlewa P y 1n Sectlon,

In the design of enclosed type radiators Sh0W1I1g y lmproved Ia diat0r in position wherein a current of air is caused to flow 111 l encloslng fille- 01. n t; I over the heating units, as heretofore known g- 2 i an end l va ion of the radiator to me, difficulties have been encountered in and ng e flue 01' Cabinet in section;

as producing a unit having sufficient heat transg- 3 is a i n l i W Showing my imfor qualities and fitting into the limited space Proved fl as d p for a forced Provided f r h di t F th r i draft How of air over the heat transfer units; such apparatus, it is the usual practice to d provide numerous fins or plates in contact g- 4 IS P1311 w f radiatOr shown 40 with the radiator units to provide a better 111 g 1 and I transfer of heat between the units and the Referring now to the drawing for a better air flowing thereover. These fins or plates understanding of my invention, my improved have been made, in most instances, in such a radiator comprises a pair of spaced maniform as to afford a tortuous path to the air, fOidS 10 and 11- The manifold 10 isvpro- .1; or else they have been so closely spaced that vided with upper and lower connections 12 the unit has required a very rapidflow of air and 13 for a heating medium, such as steam,

- thcrethrough, so that, in either case, dust and hot water or vapor. The manifold 11 is likelint carried in suspension in the air is drawn wise provided with upper and lower connecinto the radiator and hangs to the fins or tions 14 and 16 for the heating medium, the

50 plates, reducing their efiiciency. upper and lower connections to the manifolds preferably,

are encased by a grally thereon.

I practice in a cabinet type radiator. The

flue 17 acts as a support for the radiator and for this purpose, supporting screws 18 and 20 extend through the sides of the flue and enter into holes formed in suitable lugs 21 and 22 formed-on the manifolds 10 and 11 respectively. The flue 17 fits snugly against the walls of the manifolds so as to cause all of the air passing through the radiator to pass over the heating unlts in a manner to e more particularly described hereafter.

As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the flue or cabinet 17 is provided with an air inlet 23 at the bottom thereof, and an air outlet 24; at the top thereof so as to provide for a natural induced draft of air over the heating units. The lower opening 23 may be provided 'with a damper 25 in order to regulate the amount of air flowing through the flue.

Joining the manifolds 10 and 11 are any desired number of radiator units 26. Theunits 26 are made of relatively thin material, preferably copper, and are in the form of flattened tubes, thereby increasing the direct heating surface for the volume of heating medium flowing through them. The thinness of the metal, and the nature of the material forming the tubes is such that they would be deformed when subjected to the ordinary pressure within the heating system were no means provided to stay them. The ends of the tubes 26 fit into suitable openings in the manifolds 10-and 11, which latter are "provided with inwardly turned bosses 27 surrounding the openings. On the outer side of the manifolds the openings for the tubes are chamfered as at 28 so that the tubes may be brazed or welded in place in the manifold.

' Each of the tubes 26 is surrounded by a plurality of plates 29 which are referably made of smooth copper so as to 0 er a minimum of resistance to air flow and a maximum heat conductivity. The plates 29 are formed solid and with holes provided therein snugly fitting over the tubes. The are uniformly spaced on the tubes 26 as y means of spacer washers 31 as staying means for the tubes 2.6 and prevent the latter being deformed by the pressure within them. Furthermore, the pressure within the tubes forces the side walls outwardly into tight engagement with the plates 29 and thus increases the heat conducting contact between the tubes and their surroundin g plates.

Where a plurality of tubes are em loyed in a radiator, the plates 29 of each tu e are in staggered relation with respect to the plates The plates 29 serve of the next adjacent tube. The upward flow of air, as seen in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, passes over the tubes, edgewise thereof, thus coming in contact with the greatest possible area of direct radiating surface and is split by the plates of the next adjacent tube, thus increasing the heat transfer efficiency of the unit above an installation which employs heat radiating fins all lying in the same vertical.

the edges of the plates than where it comes in contact only with the surfaces thereof. The arrangement of staggered plates in a multiple unit radi. tor causes a division of the upflowing currents of air as they pass over each succeeding unit, thus bringing the air into intimate contact with more edge surface of the plates than would be the case with plates'all lying in the same plane.

In assembling the unit, the flattened tubes 26 are cut to the desired length and the plates 29 and washers 31 are placed thereon. If desired, one or more of the plates 29 may be omitted near the end of the tube, where it is to be joined to the manifold, in order to leave room for the brazing or welding operation employed. After the tube has been joined to the manifold, a plate may be split and secured, in any well known manner, to the tube adjacent the manifold, in order to provide the desired heat radiating surface area. lVhen the tubes and manifolds have been joined together the whole is subjected to a test pressure higher than would be used in service. This pressure within the tubes, during the test, forces their flattened walls outwardly into tight engagement with their surrounding plates; The radiator is then dipped in approximately 450 solder so-that a metallic contact is formed between the plates and tubes and spacers 31, thus insuring a heat conductivity between the tubes and their surrounding units, of the highest efficiency.

The operation of the apparatus so far described will be apparent. lVhen the damper 25 is opened, air is free to enter the lower end of the flue 17, the heating units 26 creating a natural induced flow of air through the flue or cabinet. The air striking the tubes 26 edgewise thereof comes in direct heat transfer relation with the greatest possible area of direct radiating surface and the plates 29 being in tight engagement with the tubes 26, both by reason of the pressure within the tubes and the soldering process used in join ing them to the tubes provide for the maximum heat conductivity between the tubes and mum resistance to the air flow through the heatin radiator. The thin flattened tubes with the air flowing edgewise thereof and the spacing of the plates effects a minimum resistance to gar flow with a maximum heat radiating surace.

Referring now to Fig. 3, I show a plurality of rows of my improved units 26 arranged cross-wise of a flue 36 with their flat sides horizontalas seen in the drawing. Mounted within the flue 36, as shown in the drawing, is a fan 37 driven by a motor 38 so as to create a current of air over the tubes 26 and edgewise of the tubes. This figure shows the adaptability of my improved unit for association with heating plants of large capacity, such as are employed in theater buildings and the like. With whatever type of heating lant with which my improved radiator may e employed, a better heat transfer can be ob -tained by causing the flow of the air to be I normal to and edgewise of the tubes 26, as shown in all of the figures of the drawing, and with the plates of adjacent tubes in staggered relation with respect to each other.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have devised an improved radiator which is simple of desi and easy of manufacture, and which provides for a highly improved rate of heat transfer efficiency.

While I have shown my invention in but two forms, it will be' obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such '.-limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the prior art or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is it may be more clearly spaced from the walls of the flue.

3. In a radiator, having an enclosing flue with an inlet and an outlet for a current of air, a pair of spaced manifolds for a heating medium one at each side of the flue and extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of relatively thin flattened tubes joining the manifolds, and radiating plates closely embracing the tubes and spaced from the walls of the flue, said plates being arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other on adjacent tubes.

4. In a radiator having an enclosing flue with an inlet andan outlet for a current of air, a pair of spaced manifolds for a heating medium one at each side of the flue and extending longitudinally thereof, a plurality of relatively thin flattened tubes joining the manifolds and arranged'edgewise to the current of air, and a plurality of uniformly spaced radiating plates closely embracing the tubes and joined thereto by fusion of metal,

ing plates closely embracing the tubes and the edges of said plates being spaced from the walls of the flue and being arranged in staggered relation with respect to each other on adjacent tubes.

In testimony whereof, I afix my signature.

WILLIAM A. FINLEY.

1. In aradiator, spaced manifolds for a medium, a plurality of flattened tubes oining the manifolds, a plurality of heat radiating members threaded over each Of the tubes to form stays therefor and joined to said tube by fusion of metal, the members of one tube being in staggered relation to the members of the other tube, and means for passing a current of air in series over the tubes.

2. In a radiator having an enclosing flue with a lower inlet and an upper outlet for air circulation, spaced manifolds for the heating medium within the enclosure, a plurality of flattened tubes joining the manifolds and extending crosswise of the flue, the tubes being turned edgewise with respect to the air current, and a plurality of heat radiat- 

